Wetting and penetrating agents and process for preparing the same



Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE:

cmmn 0. mm; or MILWA KEE, wrsconsnr, ASSIGNOB, 3! new assume, no u. I. nu ronr DE nnmouns & comm, A oonroaa'rrou or nnmwm WETTING AND PENETRATING AGENTS AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE am 170 Drawing.

This invention relates to wetting and penetrating agents and to an improved process utilizing such agents for increasin the wetting and penetrating capacity 0 aqueous treating liquids employed in textile mdustries.

More particularly it is an objectof this invention to produce extremely strong wetting agents characterized by considerably faster wetting action than any of the agents known heretofore. The advantages of having quickacting wetting agents are well known in the'art of treating textile fibers.

Methods have previously been proposed for increasing the efficiency of treating baths by employing a large class of reagents known as wetting agents. Among these wetting agents may be mentioned the sulfonic acids of alkylated polynuclearhydrocarbons, such as isopropyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid, diisobutyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid, and isopropyl-tetrahydro-naphthalene sulfonic acid. In addition, it has now been proposed to form wetting agents by sulfonating the products obtained by the pyrogenic decomposition of abietic acid containing material, these products being generically described as abietene sulfonic acids in U. S. Patent No. 1,853,352, issued April 12, 1932.

It is an object of this invention to pro-- 'vide an improved method of increasing the efiiciency of such wetting agents in aqueous baths used for treating textile fibers in conjunction with dyeing, washing, carbonizing, softening, fulling, desizing, dressing operations and the like. a

Other and further important objects of this invention 'will' become apparent from the following description and appended claims. V I have now found that the wetting action of the above mentioned compounds can be enormously increased by the addition thereto of a class of compoundsdesignated generically as terpene alcohols. Among the alcohols of this class which I have investigated are the followingz-alpha terpineol, liquid terpineol, para-,menthanol and fenchyl alcohol. Of these, it will be noted that alpha terpineol and liquid 'terpineol belong to the class of Application flied December 21, 1929. Serial No. 415,789.

menthene alcohols, while para-menthanol belongs to the class of menthane alcohols. The terpene alcohols may be used in the technical y pure state, as for example, pure alpha terpineol, or they may be used in admixture withclosely related products. For instance, the alpha terpineol may be used in the form of a liquid terpineol, the commercial product containing about 95% alpha terpineol.

These new treating agents may be used in the various wet treatment of textiles in acid,

neutral or alkaline baths.

They are characterizedin being the quickest-acting wettin agents known today. Thus, where a' 1 0 aqueous solution of isopropyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid will sink a standard test piece of canvass in about 4.2

seconds, an equal concentration of a wetting.

agent as prepared accordingfto this inventioo lis will sink a similar test piece in 1.8 secon v The following examples, in which parts by weight are given, serve to illustrate various methods of carrying out my invention inits preferred form. A

Example 1 To parts ofwater are added 0.7 part of a mixture made from 50 parts of abietene sulfonic acid sodium salt, 35parts of liquid terpineol and 15 parts of water. 10 grams of cotton yarn are added to this bath and.

Example 1 except that, in preparing the wetting out mixture, instead of using 50. parts carbon and a terpene alcohol.

if abietene sulionic acid, arts of isopro pyl naphthalene sulfonic aci sodium salt are employed. 7

Example 4 An aqueous bath is made up of parts of water and 0.7 part of a mixture composed of 50 parts-of ahietene sulfonic acid, 35 parts of liquid terpincol and 15 parts or water. Wool is then treated in this bath for a few seconds in which time it will be thoroughly wetted.

Example 5 A dye bath is made up of Anthrene Violet BNX- (Color Index 1163) There is then added suficient of a mixture composed of 50 parts of abietene sulfonic acid sodium salt and 35 parts of liquid terpineol, 15 parts: of water to give a 1% solution. Cotton 1111- mersed in this bath is dyed in strong and even shades. A similar hath made up but omitting the wetting mixture gives weak and uneven dyeings.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above examples are merely illustrative and can be varied through a wide range without departing iromthe'spirit of my invention.

Thus for instance, while I have indicated in the examples a preferred ratio of terpene alcohol to wetting agent to be 7 0 1( )0, this ratio may be varied within wide ranges. A ratio of 25:.100 is not too small and a ratio of 100: 100 is not too large. While the ratios within these limits give the most desirable results, noticeable improvement may also be obtained in the use of ratios outside said limits. Again, while the concentration of the entire mixture in the treatment bath is, in the most pre ferred practice, usually around 0.5 to 1%, the limits 0.1% to 5% are not extreme. V

I claim as my invention: V 1. The processwhich comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of a 5 sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon of the type that are characterized by strong wetting properties and a terpene alcohol.

2. The process which comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of an 9 alkylated sulfonated polynuclear "hydrocarbon and a terpene alcohol.

3. The process which comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of an I isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydro- 4. The proce'ss which comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a terpene alcohol of the group consisting of alpha-terpineol and para-- menthanol. a p

5. The process which comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and alpha-terpineol.

ascent:

,ting mixture comprising an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a terpene alcohol.

9. As a new composition of matter, a wetting inixture comprising an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a terpene alcohol of the group consisting of alpha -terpineol and para-menthanol.

10. 'As a newcomposition of matter, a wetting mixture comprising an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and alpha-terpineol. v V V 11. As a new composition of matter, an aqueous treating bath containing a, sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon of the type that are characterized by strong wetting properties and a terpene alcohol.

12. As a new composition of matter, an aqueous treating bath containing an alkylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a tcrpene alcohol.

13. As a new composition of matter, an aqueous treating bath containing an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a terpene alcohol.

14. As a new composition of matter, an aqueous treating bath containing an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a terpene alcohol of the group consisting of alpha-terpineol and para-menthanol.

15. As a new composition of matter, an

' aqueous treating bath containing a wetting mixture comprising an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and alphaterpineol.

16. The process which comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a menthene alcohol.

- 17. The process which comprises treating textile fibers with an aqueous solution of an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a menthane alcohol.

18. As" a new composition of matter a wetting mixture comprising an isopropylated sulfonated polynuclear-hydrocarbon and a menthene'alcohol.

19. As a new composition of matter, a wetting mixture comprising an isopropylated' sulfonated polynuclear hydrocarbon and a J menthane alcohol. I

20. As a new composition of matter, an aqueous treating bath containing an isopropylated sulfonated: polynuclear hydrocarbon and a menthene alcohol.

21. As a new compbsitien of matter, an aqueous treating hath containing an iso r0 pylated sulfonated pol uclear'hydrocar on and a menthane alcoho In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Carrolville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsip.

' CLYDE O. HENKE. 

